Indonesians set up fireworks to celebrate New Years on Dec. 31, 2013 in Surabaya, Indonesia. / Robertus Pudyanto, Getty Images

by Gina Columbus, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press

by Gina Columbus, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press

ASBURY PARK, N.J. -- A possible cure for cancer. Another baby boy for Prince William and Duchess Kate. More space travel, with an end goal of vacations on Mars.

All are predictions of what could happen in the world in 2014, according to psychic Barbara Mackey of Toms River, who has done psychic readings and paranormal investigations for 25 years.

But it's not just psychics who are expecting exciting changes in 2014. Much is on the horizon for the new year, according to outlooks from economists and futurists.

Flo Higgins, an astrologer in Eatontown, said those born under the signs of Aries, Capricorn, Cancer and Libra are going to feel tremendous changes in their lives through the middle of July.

Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio and Taurus people have been undergoing plenty of trials and tribulations, Higgins said, but are due for a big payoff. Their long roads will calm down toward the end of 2014's summer.

Gemini, Pisces, Sagittarius and Virgo people need to be careful, Higgins cautioned.

"They've got to use disciplines," Higgins said. "They seem to get into a lot of trouble."

Stars expected to have a big 2014 include Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling and Miley Cyrus - with a quickie wedding and divorce and a possible spread in Playboy magazine for Cyrus, Mackey predicts.

"I think it's gonna be a continuation of what we've been going through; our moral standards are going to continue to drop â?¦ we're going to have more Miley Cyrus-type things," Higgins said.

Comedy could take entertainment by the reins this year, Mackey said.

"People want to laugh ... it seems that they're thirsty to laugh and have fun, so people that can (act) in comedy are at the top of the list (this year)," Mackey said.

Mixed views on economy

Joel Naroff, an economist based in Holland, Pa., expects the nation's economy to bounce back in the second half of the year.

"The remaining missing link in this recovery â?¦ we're just not getting a lot of wage and salary gain," Naroff said. "Who's had a good salary increase lately? You have to get the unemployment down at a level where companies need to start bidding for workers. Some of that will happen in 2014."

The year will end with an unemployment rate of 6.2 to 6.3 percent, he predicts.

But Michael Zey of Morristown, a Montclair State University business professor and member of the World Future Society, a nonprofit educational and scientific organization, is not as positive.

"It's very disturbing that 80 percent of the new jobs were part-time (this year)," Zey said. "I see no indication from employers that they're willing to increase their hiring - they're making their profits through cost-cutting, investing in new technologies and few hirings."

Technology will continue to grow at a rapid rate, Zey said, and 3-D printers will become more common in households.

"Now they have bio-printing where they're using medical tissues to create organs, from an ear to a pancreas â?¦ this is part of the medical discovery process. And as people hear about these, they don't want to hear their insurance company isn't going to pay for this. That's part of the clash, the conflict that's going to be taking place between all these breakthroughs at the medical level," Zey said.

Mackey, meanwhile, says she has a strong inkling that discoveries for a cancer vaccine will be made, and a cause for what creates the disease will be targeted.

"It's going to be a trial; they're trying it right now, I believe," Mackey said. "I think it might start out in Canada. I'm hopeful with this."

Higgins predicts more options to protect one's privacy on Facebook and Twitter will be created.

"We'll have more advances in communication; they're not stopping as far as Internet and the telephones," Higgins said.

Look forward to more space travel, too, according to Mackey, with a focus on Mars. The end goal is to eventually have resorts and vacation spots on the planet, she predicts.

Political changes

Mackey's psychic predictions say local governments will be dismissed by citizens, who will eventually take matters into their own hands.

"I believe there's going to be a collective consciousness that's going to affect us on a worldwide, global level," Mackey said. "We're looking at ourselves and saying, 'we do have the power to change things on a lower level.' We can't count on the government; they used to be our role models, but no longer."

President Barack Obama will be in jeopardy, Mackey said, when a scandal surrounding him arises.

What about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a possible presidential candidate?

"His discipline in getting his weight off â?¦ if he's able to do that, he will run," Higgins said. "He's already running. He's a Virgo, he's very detail-oriented and he's got it all mapped out."

Democrats could lose their majority in the U.S. Senate after the 2014 midterm elections.

"I think (politicians) will be more bipartisan," Mackey said. "I think they will play nice for the sake of the country. I'm not saying this is going to be overnight; it's a process."

Zey sees Republicans will pick up 10 Senate seats.

"A lot of the Senate seats are up for grabs in red states," Zey said. "You could have a year from now a Republican Senate and House with a Democrat president ... that's the way it looks politically right now, (but) things can change dramatically in 10 months."